Conjoined twins celebrate record-breaking birthday

Conjoined twins Donnie and Ronnie Galyon, who were born in October of 1951, are celebrating a landmark birthday early as they plan a block party to commemorate their age of 62 years, eight months, and seven days.

According to ABC News, the reason the birthday is a landmark is because they are surpassing the age of Chang and Eng Bunker, brothers who were also known as Siamese twins and performed in sideshows in the 1800s.

The Galyon twins were born in 1951 and reside in Beavercreek, Ohio with their brother and his wife. The twins are connected to one another from the breastbone down to the pelvis and they spent the months in the intensive care unit after birth. They currently receive round the clock care from their brother, Jim, and his wife, Mary.

According to Jim, the twins “weren’t even expected to live the first day.” He also spoke of how they had wanted to pass the age of the Bunker twins. “This has been a life-long goal to meet and beat the Bunker twins. It means the world to them.”

The Dayton Daily News reported Ronnie Galyon as saying about the milestone, “Put it this way, I’m stoked.”

However, the Galyon twins discovered that Guinness had a record of another pair of conjoined twins, Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci, who surpassed the record of oldest conjoined twins at age 63. Therefore, Guinness is reportedly looking forward to giving the Galyon twins recognition once they officially reach their 63rd birthday.